WINTER2022_SSCWN_1-68-3

EXTRA!
EXTRA!
Presenting the news stories featuring
self serve car washes
New wash opens in Tasmania
Co-directors Ken Upchurch and Heath Lang have
opened a self serve car wash in Legana, Tasmania, Australia,
according to a December 11 Examiner story.
The was includes several cashless self-wash stations, a
large in-bay automatic car wash, self detailing bay, and a
pet wash.
“The car wash was intended to be completed in September
but sourcing the specialized labor required to construct
the facility was delayed by quarantine issues,” the story said.
“We looked around and thought about what the community
needed, and we’re just hoping the community agrees,”
Upchurch said in the story.
New wash opens in McGregor, Minnesota
Two couples, Brandon and Janae Popp and Jordan and Alli Barten, recently formed a partnership
called Bartopp Properties and now own a self serve car wash as their first venture, a
December 11 Message Media story said.
Brandon and Janae Popp reside in McGregor, Minnesota, where Brandon serves as the
superintendent at Minnesota National Golf Club and Resort. Janae is a registered nurse.
Jordan and Alli Barten live in Sauk Rapids, Minnesota, where Jordan is a commercial banker
and Alli is a daycare provider.
“The partnership will bring diverse experience to the new business,” the story said. “Living
in the McGregor area and knowing the local community well is a bonus,” Brandon said in
the story. “We hope to try and fill a void in the car wash world of a small community. We are
excited to learn and grow with the business.”
“The biggest initial change is we will be open year-round, which was one of the bigger
requests from customers,” Alli said in the story.
A new in-bay automatic wash, which will be installed and operational by early-spring and
large self-serve bay will be kept as-is. “Bartopp Properties is also working in collaboration
with McGregor Oil to bring savings to the community and encourage the support of local
businesses. The new owners would also like to eventually add a pet wash in the future, another
popular request,” the story said.
Currently, there is only one other automated car wash in McGregor.
“We are very excited about the purchase, and we will be moving quickly to complete all of
the updates,” Alli said in the story. “As a family with many connections to the area, we look
forward to serving the community and keeping it clean - one car at a time!”
Texas self serve serves as
Covid-19 testing site
The D&D Coin Op self serve car wash in San Antonio
was turned into a Covid-19 testing site back in December,
according to a Fox 29 news report.
The December 8 story said the post-holiday surge of
COVID-19 along with a lack of supply forced some people
to wait for several hours in line to get a COVID test.
The testing clinic which was run by Nomi Health was
one of many pop-up clinics across the county.
The testing site was open every day for the second week
of December from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. including on Saturday.
Renovated car and truck
wash opens in Barryville,
New York
Jim Sallusto and his son Matt had been visiting
the area of Barryville for the past 27 years,
and now they’re living here permanently as
co-owners of the newly renovated Barryville
Car & Truck Wash. According to a December 29
River Reporter story, “Matt is in charge,” Jim said
at the December 18 ribbon cutting and celebration,
“I’m just the eye candy.”
Matt said they installed the most modern self
serve car wash equipment. ”In deference to the
proximity to the Upper Delaware River, the car
wash is equipped with a series of holding tanks
that filter out sediment, salt and any chemical
residue from the biodegradable soaps. The produced
grey water is then pumped out by a local
carrier,” the story said.
New wash opens in
Toms River, New
Jersey
Prestige Auto Spa NJ, of Toms
River, New Jersey, recently opened
its doors last November, according
to a press release.
Prestige Auto Spa NJ is locally
owned and operated by Jeff Kovatch
and Sal Branchizio, long-time
friends and long-time car enthusiasts,
the press release stated. Driven
to build a community car wash
that offers more, Prestige offers
full-serve and self serve bays along
with oil changes, window tinting,
headlight restorations, detailing,
and more.
WINTER 2022 • 19